Canucks’ Rick Rypien suspended indefinitely for scuffle

The National Hockey League has suspended Vancouver Canucks forward Rick Rypien indefinitely, pending a hearing, in the wake of an altercation with a Wild fan during Canucks’ 6-2 loss in Minnesota on Tuesday.

The incident took place at 13:38 of the second period as Rypien was heading to his team’s dressing room after being assessed a double minor penalty for roughing and a 10-minute misconduct penalty.

Rule 23.7 states that "Any player, goalkeeper or non-playing Club personnel who physically interferes with the spectators, becomes involved in an altercation with a spectator, or throws any object at a spectator, shall automatically incur a game misconduct penalty and the Referee shall report all such infractions to the Commissioner who shall have full power to impose such further penalty as he shall deem appropriate."

Footage of the incident, which has already been posted on YouTube, showed the fan applauding before Rypien pushed the fan in the chest and attempted to grab him before being pulled away by a teammate.

"I think we are going to wait and see how the league views it, get their opinion tomorrow and I’m sure there will be a hearing of some sort and go from there," Canucks general manager Mike Gillis said Tuesday night.

"I haven’t talked to Rick, I don’t know what happened or what was said. Until that happens, I don’t feel it is fair to say anything."

The Canucks play the Chicago Blackhawks tonight in Chicago.

The fan was not ejected, but instead simply moved to another area of the rink.

Coach Alain Vigneault claimed not to see the incident, but actually appeared to pull Rypien away from the fan.

"I didn’t see the incident," Vigneault said. "When the linesman brought him over I was talking to the referee and the linesman. I haven’t seen a replay of it."

Rypien did not play in the third period and left the bench before the game ended. He was not made available for interviews.

The incident started when Rypien and Brad Staubitz became involved near the Wild bench at 13:36 of the second period. Linesman Don Henderson managed to pull Rypien toward the Vancouver bench. At one point, Rypien appeared to push Henderson.